Rosa Calderon ‘79

Director of Development and Training 

Service Education and Resources of Westchester, Inc. 

Rosa Calderon says that advocating on behalf of the Hispanic/Latino population was not an option for her - it was a requirement. Her father, a member of the Liberation Party of Puerto Rico, fled to the United States after a government crackdown on his party in 1950. He taught his youngest daughter the importance of fighting oppression and of helping those less fortunate. She took this to heart, and at the tender age of nine, was already working as an advocate - translating at the Welfare office for Spanish speaking Latinos.

Calderon says her college education gave her the tools to move beyond life as a poor Latina in the South Bronx, but advocacy gave her a reason for being.

Her efforts have been well recognized. She was named "New York State Hispanic Woman of the Year" in 1992 by former Governor Mario Cuomo and since 1988, has been included in Who's Who Among Hispanic Americans.

The Westchester County Executive proclaimed February 27, 1993 “Rosa Calderon Day” in the county, and she was honored by PODER AMERICA "Latino Advocacy and Civil Rights" in 1997. She sits on the board of the "100 Hispanic Women of Westchester County," and founded and coordinated the "Annual Westchester County Hispanic Heritage Day" and "Youth Leadership Day" for 500 students in Westchester County.

Calderon serves as director of Development and Training for SER (Service Education and Resources of Westchester, Inc.) in White Plains. She is slated to move into the role of executive director in June.
 

She began her educational career at New York City Technical College, earning an associate's degree in Medical Technology in 1974. In 1986, she received her bachelor's in Behavioral Science from Mercy College, then her master's in Social Work from the Adelphi University Graduate School of Social Work in 1990. She has completed much of her doctoral work at the Fordham University Graduate School of Social Work. She is certified as a social worker by the Academy of Social Workers, a certified Cultural Sensitivity Consultant by the Delphi Consultant Group, and is a certified Conflict Assistant Specialist, trained by the U.S. Department of Justice.